Self report techniques

• A strength of using structured interviews is that the data collected is quantitative, making it easy to analyse and compare results statistically or in a graphical format.
• A weakness of using structured interviews is that they can produce a response bias, as participants may not take the time to read all the questions properly and select 'yes' for each of their answers.
• Unstructured interviews are more like a relaxed conversation between friends, with the interviewer and interviewee(s) discussing topics of interest.
• A strength of unstructured interviews is that they generate qualitative data, providing insights into the unique human condition.
• A weakness of unstructured interviews is that they can lead to researcher bias, as the interviewer may influence the responses of the interviewee(s).
• Semi-structured interviews fall between the two previous interview designs, with some questions decided on in advance and others being more like a relaxed conversation between friends.
• A strength of semi-structured interviews is that they generate both qualitative and quantitative data, providing a balance between the two.
• A weakness of unstructured interviews is that there is a higher chance of demand characteristics compared to structured interviews.
• A weakness of semi-structured interviews is that they can produce a response bias, as participants may not take the time to read all the questions properly and select 'yes' for each of their answers.
• Interviews can be designed in different ways, and can comprise of open questions, closed questions or a mixture of both.
• Open questions allow participants to answer however they wish, generating qualitative data since there is no fixed number of responses to select from.
• Closed questions restrict the participant to a predetermined set of responses and generate quantitative data.
• There are different types of closed questions, including: checklist, Likert response scale and ranking scale.
• A strength of using closed questions is the nature of the data collected which is quantitative, making it easy to analyse and compare results statistically or in a graphical format.
• A weakness of using closed questions is that they can produce a response bias, as participants may not take the time to read all the questions properly and select 'yes' for each of their answers.
• Analysis of such data can be more difficult, time-consuming and expensive to conduct, compared to quantitative data which is easier to statistically analyse without undergoing further processing beforehand.
• Unstructured interviews are more time-consuming and costly, as this type of interview requires a trained psychologist to administer it.
• Unstructured interviews typically produce a large amount of rich, qualitative data.
• Unstructured interviews are conducted more like a conversation, with the interviewer only facilitating the discussion rather than asking set questions.
• Semi-structured interviews comprise of mostly prepared questions that can be supplemented with additional questions as seen fit by the interviewer at the time.
• Statistical analysis of data collected in unstructured interviews can be challenging due to the qualitative nature of the data.
• Investigator effects can also occur between researchers where there is more than one researcher conducting the interviews.
• Semi-structured interviews typically produce rich qualitative data.
• A strength of a structured interview is that the quantitative data is easier to statistically analyse, allowing for comparisons between groups of individuals and the identification of patterns and trends.
• Semi-structured interviews generate rich and interesting qualitative data, allowing the interviewer to clarify the meaning of the participants' responses and gain further information if required.
• The use of semi-structured interviews can increase the validity of findings due to the open questions encouraging participants to be honest in their answers, reducing social desirability bias.
• A disadvantage of using the structured interview method is that investigator effects may play a role over the course of several interviews with different participants.
• The interviewer still retains control over the semi-structured interview schedule compared to an unstructured interview, which can result in investigator effects that may then affect the behaviour of the participants negatively.